Germany on course for title defence, beat England 4-1 in semis

Olympic champions Germany are on course of a historic hat-trick of World Cup titles as they scored a facile 4-1 victory over England in a high-voltage semifinal

Written by Press Trust of India

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New Delhi:

Olympic champions Germany are on course of a historic hat-trick of World Cup titles as they scored a facile 4-1 victory over England in a high-voltage semifinal match here on Thursday.

Germany, who won 2002 and 2006 World Cups, were the dominant side in the clash of two European powerhouses and they made England play a catch-up game by taking a 3-1 lead by the half time.

For the Germans, who were unbeaten so far in the tournament, Jean Marco Montag (sixth minute), Oliver Korn (11th), Martin Haner (31st) and Linus Butt (60th) scored while European champions England pulled one back through Richard Smith in the 19th minute.

Germany dominated the first half with more scoring chances and by forcing four penalty corners. Matthias Witthaus was impressive upfront, making several dangerous runs into the England striking circle.

England, who were playing in their only second semifinal in a World Cup after 1986 at home, got just one penalty corner in the first half.

England tried to come back after the breather and they had more attacks with James Tindall making some fine moves inside the opposition striking circle though it was the Germans who scored the only goal of the second session.

The double defending champions will take on the winner of the other semifinal match between Australia and the Netherlands.

Germany took lead in the sixth minute with Jean Marco Montag's drag-flick hitting the roof of the net as England goalkeeper James Fair just got his stick at the ball.

Germany made it 2-0 with a terrific goal five minutes later. Oliver Korn deflected the ball into England goal from close range off a hard hit from outside the striking circle.

England pulled one back in the 19th minute from their first penalty corner with Richard Smith cleanly pushing the ball to the right of German goalkeeper Tim Jessulat.

Three minutes after the England goal, Matthias Witthaus almost made it 3-1 but his shot off the rebound of a drag-flick from Jan-Marco Mnotag was saved by goalkeeper James Fair.

Germany then produced a fine variation in their penalty corner conversion and made it 3-1 three minutes from the breather from their fourth penalty corner. Martin Haner flicked the ball high up into the England net.

England made several attacks in the second session but failed to give the finishing touches.

On the other hand, Germany scored from the only penalty corner they got in the second session. Linus Butt slammed a rebound off a penalty corner by his captain Maximillian Muller in the 60th minute into the England net.

England could have reduced the margin in the 65th minute but Alastair Wilson's shot from close range was blocked by Germany goalkeeper Tim Jessulat.